Chilean Deputy Foreign Minister visits Vietnam

During his stay in Vietnam from October 16-17, Deputy Foreign Minister Marin met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the all-round cooperation with Chile.

He appreciated the development in the bilateral ties and cooperation at international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC) forum, Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) and East Asia-Latin American Cooperation Forum (FEALAC).

Deputy Minister Marin expressed his wish that the two countries will strengthen comprehensive cooperation and boost cooperation within the framework of inter-regional mechanisms and among regional organisations like ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance which comprises Chile, Mexico, Columbia and Peru. 

At the political consultation between the two foreign ministries on October 17, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and Deputy Minister Edgardo Riveros Marin discussed measures to boost cooperation and exchange notes on regional and international issues of shared interest. 

The two sides spoke of the development of the Vietnam-Chile friendship and comprehensive cooperation in the recent times and the trade exchange increase of 20 percent each year during the 2010-2015 period. 

In 2015, the two-way trade reached nearly US$1 billion, triple from 2010. The figure is US$656.4 million in the first eight months. 

They also agreed that there remains a lot of room for the two countries to cooperate, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and processing industry, seafood and training. 

The two sides consented to promote the introduction of the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement to the business community in each country and implement signed agreements and projects as well as accelerate negotiations in education, finance, and other fields to complete the legal framework for bilateral cooperation. 

On regional and international issues, the two sides affirmed to strengthen coordination, cooperation and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums. 

On the East Sea issue, the two sides shared the view of resolving disputes via peaceful measures, with respect for diplomatic and legal processes on the basis of the international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS ). 

After the political consultation, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and his counterpart Edgardo Riveros Marin, on behalf of the two governments, signed the agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders between Vietnam and Chile.